This year's visit to Nikko is likely to be the last Japan Journey foray out of Tokyo to this area to the north of the city, primarily because the crowds of other visitors seriously impeed our attempts to work in both a visit to Lake Chuzenji (for lunch at the Hotel Kanaya Boat House and to view the spectacular autumn colors) and to Toshogu Taisha (one of country's most important Shinto shrines honoring the founder of the Tokugawa military government in 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu).

We always seem to be rushed at the sites visited, worried about getting stuck in traffic and missing our return train to Tokyo, and yet spend inordinante amounts of time sitting on the tour bus moving from place to place.

At any rate I used this final opportunity to take some digital images of the three shrines we worked into this year's visit (Toshogu, Futanari and one honoring the third Tokugawa shogun). Each represents traditional Japanese Shinto religious architecture at its most Rococo, belieing our usual assumptions about the restrained simplicity of Japan's architectural traditions and assumptions.

an album of highlights for your viewing pleasure

views of the Toshogu Grand Shrine

neighboring Futanari Shrine